AIAS Foundation Scholarships
Applications for the AIAS Foundation, WomenIn, and Girls for Gaming scholarships are currently closed. Please sign-up for the AIAS Foundation newsletter for updates.
Consult the Scholarship FAQ before contacting the Foundation with questions. All questions may be directed to [email protected].
AIAS Foundation Scholarship Fund
These scholarships support aspiring student game makers in undergraduate or graduate level programs who are planning on pursuing a career in development or leadership as well as video game early professionals and recent graduates within their first four years in the industry.
Eligible candidates will be pursuing careers in game development or the business of interactive entertainment.
WomenIn Scholarship Fund
The WomenIn Scholarships, supported by Intel, are a collaborative effort to attract, retain, and advance women in the interactive entertainment industry by supporting their education and professional development. This initiative provides support to female students and early career gaming professionals through its mentoring program, education, and scholarships.
This scholarship is available for women students and early professionals (recent graduates within their first four years in the industry) pursuing a tech career in game development. Applicants to the WomenIn Scholarship must identify as women intending to pursue a career in the technical aspect of video games including but not limited to art, animation, programming, and engineering.
Girls for Gaming Scholarship Fund
The Girls for Gaming Scholarship honors individuals who help empower and educate girls and young women on the various roles within the gaming industry with the purpose of driving and normalizing gender diversity within gaming. This initiative aims to support the scholarship recipient through their education (if they are a student) and provide a mentoring program to further grow ally communities and amplify female voices.
This scholarship is available for undergraduate and early professionals (recent graduates within their first four years in the industry) pursuing the business of interactive entertainment including but not limited to marketing, law, producing, and product management.
Applicant Privacy Policy: All applicant information provided to the Foundation is considered confidential and not released to any third party. By submitting your application you agree to receive correspondence from the Foundation regarding this opportunity and any other upcoming scholarship opportunities. At any time you may opt out of these emails. Please contact [email protected] for further information regarding this policy.
All tuition assistance provided by the AIAS Foundation Scholarships is sent directly to the financial aid department of the university in which the student is currently enrolled.
Scholarship Program Impact and Sponsorship
AIAS Foundation Scholarship Program Information
The scholarship program was created to benefit students and early professionals in the video games industry and encompasses three options: the AIAS Foundation, WomenIn, and Girls for Gaming scholarships made to uplift and support talented students and early professionals who aspire to make a mark in the games industry through their dedication, passion, and interest in pushing forward the medium of interactive entertainment.
Student scholarships support aspiring game makers in undergraduate or graduate level programs. Early professional scholarships support recent graduates in their first four years of the video game industry. Each scholarship includes:
- $2,500 tuition reimbursement for student applicants OR a $2,000 travel stipend to a video game conference for early professionals within the calendar year
- A virtual workshop program throughout the year tailor made for the needs of each scholar cohort
- An industry mentor, specifically matched to help best suit each scholar who meets with the scholar at least once a month virtually and in-person at the D.I.C.E. Summit
- Access to the AIAS Foundation Alumni Discord channel, in which scholars can share advice, job openings, and community meetups
- An all-expenses paid trip to the D.I.C.E. Summit and D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony (Costs up to $2,500 per scholar for travel, hotel, food, and administrative costs)
The program also has over 200+ industry mentors in our database to help match scholars with the best mentor; hosts virtual and in-person alumni gatherings whether on Discord or at events like GDC or Summer Games Fest; provides scholars with additional opportunities to attend other industry events for free like GDC and Games for Change through industry-led partnerships; and cross-partnerships with other organizations like Google Scholars, Black Voices in Gaming, the IGDA Foundation, the ESA Foundation, and WIGI to help increase networks and exposure.
Scholarship Impact and Testimonials
The scholarships have made a powerful impact for up-and-coming game developers and business professionals across a wide range of disciplines. Here are a few highlights:
- Over 100+ student and early professional scholars across the nation have been chosen for our scholarships from roles that include but are not limited to game directors, designers, producers, software engineers, lawyers, business development, and brand managers across a vast number of universities and companies.
- Over 200+ industry mentors are in our mentor database with many having been involved in our mentoring program as well as being workshop leaders both virtually and in-person with curated topics specific to each scholar and cohort. A sample of topics include AAA vs. Indie game development; Game Production 101; Resume/Portfolio Best Practices; Branding Yourself; and Soft Skills Tips and Tricks. Companies that are a part of our mentor/workshop leaders program include Riot Games, Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, Outerloop Games, Supergiant Games, thatgamecompany, Windflower Games, Marvel Games, Innersloth, Bad Robot Games, Zebra PR, Xbox Games Studios, Nyamyam, Cliffhanger Games, Iron Galaxy Studios, Lightspeed LA, Wizards of the Coast, ZeniMax Online Studios, Insomniac Games, Future Club, Talofa Games, Liminimal Experiences, and many more.
- We received a near perfect approval rating from scholars in our surveys that the program has met or exceeded expectations for scholars. Mentors/workshop leaders also have consistently commented on direct and effective impact on their contributions. We have also continued to ramp up our scholar programming with over 25+ hours of workshops, cohort meetups, mentor sessions, and scholar activities, utilized by other scholarship programs as well managed by the Foundation. We also take feedback to heart and change and edit the program annually to make sure that it fits the needs of our scholars and the changing landscape of the industry.
- Over 90% of our scholars are now working in the games industry in junior to mid-career roles with examples of positive impact within the industry as well as continuing to win accolades, participate in workshops/programs, become speakers and thought leaders, and give back to their communities as mentors and community advocates.
“...the entire experience was truly the experience of a lifetime...To me, as a scholar, a green artist in the gaming industry, this event will stay with me throughout my career. As I have raved about the event, I should also rave about the industry of welcoming professionals, eager to hear about what I do and support my career as I kick off the ground running. Their support is unbelievable and this is my first experience at D.I.C.E.!” - Sarah Belhumeur, 2016-2017 Scholar
"I felt by sitting down in a small group, we could really get into deep conversations directly with these pros. Those discussions opened my eyes to different perspectives and possibilities within the gaming world, making it a truly invaluable experience for beginners who want to get into the industry.” - Kayi Ng, 2023-2024 Scholar
“Joining the scholarship program truly inspired me on both a professional and personal level. I look back at the friendships I cultivated and the memorable experience of hearing from talented individuals around the globe..I hope to one day give back to others in the industry - cultivating and instilling hope for those pursuing their dreams in the future.” - Sahar Kausar, 2019-2020 Scholar
"Attending DICE is a kind of opera fest, and as a scholar, I found it to be a deeply enriching experience; as a working creative, it expanded my thinking of viable strategies to ferry a successful career; as businessperson, it helped open my eyes to all the diverse ways to potentially build and run my own studio. Thank you so much for your contribution to my professional development, both as a scholar and a creative." - Maynard Hearns, 2022-2023 Scholar
"It felt good to be treated as an equal participant in the conversation and made me feel hopeful that I could fit in with other industry professionals in the future." - Courtney Manbeck, 2023-2024 Scholar
Learn more about our past winners and testimonials through the links below:
- 2023-2024 Scholar Experience Highlights: Link
- Career Highlights of Scholars: Link
- View Sample Scholar Guidelines/Schedule: Link
- Scholar Full Testimonials:
Funding Opportunities
Our scholarship program would not be possible without the generous support of donors like yourself. Below, please find different ways that you can support and make a direct and impactful difference. Would you like to support or have questions? Please email [email protected].
- $5,000 - Gold Sponsor
- Covers one scholar for one year
- Your name inclusion on our AIAS Foundation supporters page
- Invitation to the AIAS Foundation Cocktail Reception at D.I.C.E.
- Opportunity to be included as a mentor or as potential sponsored workshop leader for scholars
- One sponsored message opportunity on our AIAS Foundation newsletter readers and/or AIAS social media platforms
- $25,000 - Silver Sponsor
- Covers five scholars for one year
- Two total sponsored messages on our AIAS Foundation newsletter readers, AIAS Foundation Alumni Discord community, and/or AIAS social media platforms
- Opportunities to include a company mentor and/or sponsored workshop sessions to current scholars
- Four invitations to the AIAS Foundation Cocktail Reception at D.I.C.E.
- $50,000 - Platinum Sponsor
- Cover all of the costs of the entire scholarship program for one year
- Branding on screens and signage during virtual and in-person workshops + AIAS Foundation Cocktail reception at D.I.C.E. + AIAS Foundation website, newsletters, and social posts (over 100,000+ impressions)
- Unlimited invitations to the AIAS Foundation Cocktail Reception at D.I.C.E.
- Five total sponsored messages that can be messaged to our AIAS Foundation newsletter readers, AIAS Foundation Alumni Discord community, and/or AIAS social media platforms
- Opportunities to include a company mentor and/or sponsored workshop session to current scholars